Release-hinge



PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

R. D. STRUBLE. RELEASE HINGE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00113, 1903.

NO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT D. STRUBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN J. CAIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RELEASE-HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,908, dated February 2, 1904.

Application filed October 13, 1903. Serial No. 176,393. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. STRUBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Release-Hinges;

ing the same to be mounted upon hinges at either longitudinal edge thereof for convenience 1n havlng ready access from either edge of the door.

More specifically, the invention comprises a novel construction of hinge comprising socket-plates adapted for attachment to the jamb or edge of an opening and in the provision of an eccentric member which is mounted upon the door and actuated by means of a knob whereby the tongue-carrying plates positioned adjacent to one or the other of the longitudinal edges of the door may be thrown out of engagement with the socket member to allow the door to swing upon the hinges at the opposite longitudinal edges of the door.

The invention comprises, further, various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings Figure 1 is a view of a door equippeclwith my improved hinges. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of the socket-plates. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the spring actuated tongue-carrying hinge-plates. Fig. t is an enlarged detail view of the eccentric member utilized to actuate the tongue-carrying plate as the knob is turned, and Fig. 5 is adetail view of a guide-plate mounted upon the door and adapted to hold the tongue-carrying plate as it is moved sidewise by the eccentric member operated by the knob.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates one of the hingeplates, having two solid cylindrical bearing portions A and A respectively, and intermediate said portions A and A is ahollow cylindrical shell B, integral with the plate A and having an elongated recess B opening into the hollow cylindrical portion thereof.

Said plate A is provided with apertures a, whereby the same maybe secured to the jamb of a'door or casing of any opening where the hinges are to be utilized. There are preferably two of the plates A used upon ordinary doorls, although more may be employed, if desirec G designates a metallic bar which has two laterally-projecting portions C at the ends thereof, said projecting portions comprising tongues which are apertured at D to receive the cylindrical shell B and form bearings upon which the bars turn when fastened to a door. The length of each projection or tongue C is such as to allow the same to turn between the solid cylindrical portions A and A A guide plate E has one of its horizontal edges turned to form a flange E, while the opposite edge of the plate from that having the flange E has a shorter flange F, extending only partially across the edge of the plate. These'plates are provided with screw-apertures '6, whereby the same may be fastened securely to a door, ad-

jacent to its top and bottom, and the flange extending the entire width of each edge of the plates is adapted to engage over the ends of the bars 0, as shown clearly in Fig. 1 of the draw ings, and form a guideway whereby said bar may have a side movement for the purpose of throwing the tongues into or out of engagement with the cylindrical socket members B. The flange F upon each plate E is adapted to engage over the inner edge of each tongue,

as shown in the drawings, to further assist in guiding said bar in its movements.

At any suitable location along the longitudinal edges of the door are secured platesH, which may be countersunk in the door or secured in the face thereof, as may be desired, and K designates a cam-shaped member having its conveXed side mounted adjacent to the concaved outline of the recess in the outer edge of the bar C, and L designates a knob which is swiveled to the plate H, being held in an aperture therein by the upsetting of the inner. edge of the knob, while the shank portion of said knob is secured to said cam member and so arranged that the latter and knob will move together.

one mounted adjacent to each margin of the.

Each bar C (there being door and of similar constructionlis. provided with a cam member and a knob adapted to actuate the same and so arranged that when the knob is turned in either direction a portion ofthe convexed edge of the cam will bear against the adjacent concaved edge of the bar for the purpose of moving the same sidewise, which movement will throw the tongues carried by the bar C out of engagement with the cylindrical socket members 13,

integral with the plates A, which latter are stationary. Springs M have ends fastened to the rear edges of the bars C, while their other free ends are adapted to bear against a shoulder or some other part of the door, the purpose of which springs is to normally throw the bars C to their farthest outward throw, in which positions the tongues carried by the bar C would engage the cylindrical socket members.

The operation of my improved hinges will be readily understood and is as follows: When it is desired to have one or the other of the edges of the door swing, the knob which is positioned adjacent to the swinging edge of the door is turned either in one direction or the other, Which movement will throw the two tongues upon the adjacent door C out of engagement with the socket members B, which will cause the door to swing upon the bar on the opposite edge of the door. When it is desired to have the other longitudinal edge of the door to swing, the knob upon the opposite edge is operated in a similar manner, as described.

By the provision of a hinge apparatus embodying the features of my invention a great convenience is afforded in operating wardrobe or closet doors or upon other articles of furniture, as bookcases, &c., where it would be an inconvenience to have the door swing in but one direction, thus giving ready access to locations behind one or the other longitu dinaledge of the door.

While I have shown and described a particular construction of apparatus embodying my hinge apparatus, it willbe understood that Imay make alterations in the detailed construction of the same, if desired, without in anyway departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

Having thusfully described my invention,

'what I claim, as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A releasing-hinge for doors comprising stationary hinge members, each provided with 'a hollow socket member and solid portions,

spaced apart therefrom, a door, spring-actuated bars .carriedoneat eachlongitudinal edge thereof, and having apertured tongues adapted to have hinged relation with said socket members, and means for throwing said tongues into and out of engagement with said. socket members, as set forth.

2. A releasing-hinge comprising plates, each having a socket member and adapted to be secured to the jamb of a door, bearing members upon each plate, spaced apart from said. socket member, a spring-actuated bar mounted adjacent to each longitudinal edge of thedoor and having apertured tongue projections adapted to have hinged relation with said socket members, a knobmountedadjacent to each longitudinal edgeof the door, and acam member rotated by said knob and adapted to bear against the edges of a bar to move the same sidewise to throw one or the other set of tongues out of engagement with said socket members, as set forth.

3. A releasing-hinge for doors comprising plates adapted for attachment to the jamb of a door and having a hollow socket member and solid bearing projections, spaced apart from the ends of said socket member, a springactuated bar mounted adjacent to each longitudinal edge of the door and having apertured tongue projections adapted to have hinged relation with said socket members, flanged guide-plates carried by the door and holding said bars thereto, a knob secured to the door adjacent to each of said bars, a cam fitted to rotate with said knob and adapted to bear against said bar for the purpose of moving the same sidewise to disengage the tongue projections from said socket members, as set forth.

4. In combination with a door, a releasinghinge comprising a plate having a hollow socket member along one of its marginal edges, solid bearing members integral with said plates and spaced apart from said socket member, bars adapted to be mounted upon a door and having apertured tongue extensions, springs secured to the inner edges of said bars and bearing against a portion of the door and serving normally to hold said bars at their farthest outer limit, said apertured tongue extensions being adapted to be seated between said bearing extensions and have hinged connection with said socket member, a knob mounted at each longitudinal edge of the door, a cam In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my member fitted to said knob and having a consignature in presence of two Witnesses.

vexed edge adapted to bear against the concaved edge of a recess in said bar, and flanged ROBERT STRUBLE' plates secured to the door and adapted to en- Witnesses:

gage and form guideways for the ends of the JOHN J. CAIN,

bars, as set forth. SAMUEL TAIT. 

